Foot control guard

ABSTRACT

This foot control guard includes a base, mounting a cover, side guards and a front closure and provides substantially complete enclosure for the control. The front closure is provided by a side-opening gate, which is hingedly mounted to the base about a rearwardly disposed vertical hinge axis. A foot-engageable lip is provided on the front closure and the gate is substantially ellshaped having a length greater than the width to facilitate the side opening action.

United States Patent i Dawson Jan. 15, 1974 [5 FOOT CONTROL GUARD 666,996 1/1901 Baldwin "14/5945 [75] Inventor: James C. Dawson, Kirkwood, Mo.

Primary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre [73] Assrgnee: Bohn and Dawson, Inc., St. Louis, Assistant Shoemaker Attorney-Lawrence H. Cohn et a1. [22] Filed: Nov. 15, 1972 21 Appl/No; 396,704 7] ABSTRACT This foot control guard includes a base, mounting a 5 CL 74/561 192/129 A, 192/129 3 cover, side guards and a front closure and provides 51 Int. Cl. Fl6p 3/00 Substantially Complete enclosure for the wmwl- The [58] Field of Search 74/561, 563, 594.6; from closure is Provided by a Sidwpening gate, which 49 32 2 7 9 7 129 A, 129 is hingedly mounted to the base about a rearwardly 200/153 C disposed vertical hinge axis. A foot-engageable lip is provided on the front closure and the gate is substan- [56] References Cited tially ell-shaped having a length greater than the width UNITED STATES PATENTS to facilitate the side opening action.

557,025 3/1896 Ruden 74/594.6 10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures FOOT CONTROL GUARD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to a safety guard for a foot-actuated control and in particular to a foot switch guard.

The switch or valve controls of many factory machines such as punch presses and other machine tools are foot operated for convenience and to allow the operator full use of both hands to position the workpiece. Many accidents have occurred as a result of inadvertent operation of the machines either by unintended actuation of the switch by the operator or by an object, such as a wrench, falling on the switch.

Attempts have been made to prevent such accidents by providing a box-like guard forthe switch. Unfortunately, known guards do not provide complete, effective enclosure of the switch. One approach to the problem has been to provide a switch box having a horizontally pivoted front end closing under gravity. A disadvantage of this type of device is that it requires an awkward hooking action by the foot to open the front end followed by longitudinal movement into the box. This latter movement is inhibited by the tendency of the front end to close under gravity. Attempts have been made to facilitate opening of this type of box by provid' ing a front end having an outwardly extending lip to render the box easier to enter. However, this ease of entry defeats the safety purpose of the box by promoting inadvertent entry.

Another approach to the problem is to provide an anti-trip mechanism, which must be released before the foot treadle of the switch can be depressed. This device suffers from the disadvantage of requiring the activation of a trip lever in addition to the treadle switch.

The present foot switch guard overcomes these and other deficiencies of known prior devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This foot control guard provides substantially complete enclosure for the switch or valve control and includes a front closure which opens sideways about a vertical hinge axis.

The front closure completely blocks longitudinal foot movement into the switch enclosure and engagement by a foot moving in this direction tends to urge it into a closed rather than an open position.

Once opened by side movement of the foot the weight of the front closure does not inhibit forward movement of the foot into proper switch engagement. The switch is easily and directly actuated in a conventional manner and no anti-tripping mechanism is necessary.

The front closure is provided by a rearwardly hinged gate, which provides for relatively rapid lateral opening of said closure.

The foot switch guard is simple in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. It can be safely operated without complicated foot movement and without special instruction.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a foot switch guard having a base means, a cover means spaced from the base means and a rearwardly hinged, side-opening gate means rotatable about a vertical hinge axis, said cover means and gate means substan' tially enclosing the switch.

It is another object to provide a gate means, biased to the closed position, which includes a front closure portion and a rearwardly extending arm portion hingedly mounted to the base means.

An advantage of one species of the invention is that the arm portion of the gate means provides a first side guard, the cover means provides a second side guard, and the front closure of the gate means is engageable with said second guard means in the closed position.

Another advantage of said one species is that the gate biasing is provided by a spring-loaded, adjustable plunger extending between said arm portion of the gate means and said base means.

An advantage of another species of the invention is that the cover means provides first and second side guards and the arm portion of the gate means is engageable with one of said side guards in the closed position.

A further advantage of said second species is that the arm portion is provided by opposed rod elements interconnected by a hinge element, and a torsion spring, ex tending between said arm portion and said base means, provides the biasing means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the guard in the open position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the guard;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the guard;

FIG. 4 is a front and elevational view of the guard;

FIG. 5 is a rear end elevational view of the guard;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified construction of the guard in the open position;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the modified guard;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the modified guard;

FIG. 9 is a front end elevational view of the modified guard, and 3 FIG. 10 is a rear end elevational view of the modified guard.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings and first to FIGS. 1-5 it will be understood that the foot switch guard includes a base plate 10, constituting a base means; a cover 1 1, attached to the base plate 10 by means ofa side plate 12, and a substantially ell-shaped gate 14, hingedly attached to the base plate 10 and constituting a gate means. By this structural arrangement the switch guard effectively encloses a treadle switch, generally indicated by numeral 15, and protects said switch from accidental actuation.

The gate 14, which includes a front closure portion 16 and an arm portion 17, is swingingly mounted at the rear end of the base plate 10 about a hinge axis indicated by numeral 20. The hinge axis is provided by a hinge pin 21, which connects hinge leaves 22 and 23 together. Hinge leaf 22 includes a reinforcing portion 24 welded or otherwise attached to the base plate 10 and the cover 1 l is attached to said reinforcing portion as by screw 27. Hinge leaf 23 is welded, or otherwise attached, to the arm portion 17 of the gate 14.

The arm portion 17 provides a first side guard means and the side plate 12, which is integrally formed with the cover 11 and is attached to the base plate 10, as by bolts 13, constitutes a second side guard means. The front closure portion 16 includes a longitudinally extending lip 19, and engages the side plate 12 when the gate 14 is in the closed position. The lip 19 provides a means by which the gate is moved to the open position by a foot, indicated by F.

The gate 14 is biased to the closed position by means of a spring-loaded plunger system generally indicated by numeral 30 and constituting a biasing means. The plunger system 30 includes a plunger element 31, which is pivotally attached to the gate arm portion 17 in spaced relation from the hinge axis 20 by means of a pair of lugs welded to said arm portion and a split pin 26, which extends between said lugs and through said plunger element 31. A post member 33 which includes an aperture 34 is welded to the base plate 10 and provides an attachment means for the plunger element 31. The plunger element 31 includes a compression spring 35, which is retained on the threaded end of said plunger element 31 by means of a nut assembly 36, and which is seated on said post member 33. As shown in FIG. 3 the side plate 12 includes a notch 37, which provides clearance for the end of the plunger element 31. The resilience provided by the plunger system is adjustable by tightening the nut assembly 36.

As shown, particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the foot engageable lip 19 of the gate front closure portion 16 extends away from the adjacent portion of the side plate 12. In the preferred embodiment, as clearly shown in FIG. 2, the hinge axis 20 is disposed rearwardly of the base plate 10. Specifically, the longitudinal spacing between the hinge axis 20 and the innermost point of foot engagement on the lip 19, indicated by point P, is such that the gate 14 opens a greater amount sideways, or laterally, than it does in a longitudinal direction, thereby facilitating access of the foot into the interior of the guard to operate the switch.

The arrangement of the gate 14 in the closed position is such that inadvertent engagement of the foot F against the gate closure 16 not only does not open the gate 14 but, in fact, tends to urge said gate into the closed condition. It will be readily understood that because of the relatively long arm of the gate 14 the amount of pressure necessary to open said gate is not great. Although foot operation of the gate 14, to provide access to the switch, is very simple, it involves initial side movement of the foot F rather than the much more common longitudinal movement. It is therefore virtually impossible for the operator to open the gate 14 accidentally, particularly in view of the fact that a change in direction of the foot is necessary to reach the treadle of the switch 15. It will be observed that side plate 12 includes an upper, outstanding portion which provides an additional safety feature in that the foot F must necessarilyv be in a low position to pass under said outstanding portion in order to engage the lip 19, said outstanding portion 12' thereby effectively limiting access to said lip 19.

The modification of the device, indicated in FIGS. 6-10 is operated in substantially the same manner as the device already described but the construction is different in some respects.

The modified foot switch guard includes a base plate 110, constituting a base means; a relatively short cover 111, attached to the base plate 110 by means of a pair of side plates 112, and a substantially ell-shaped gate 114, hingedly attached to the base plate 110 and constituting a gate means. The switch guard effectively encloses the moving parts of a treadle switch 115, to protect said switch from accidental actuation.

The gate 114 includes a forward closure portion 116 and an arm portion 117 and is swingingly mounted at the rear end of the base plate about a perpendicular hinge axis indicated by numeral 120. The arm portion 1 17 of the gate 114 includes a pair of opposed longitudinal elements 1 18 attached at one end, as by welding, to the gate closure portion 116. which is formed from a plate. The other end of the arm elements 118, as shown in FIG. 8, are interconnected by a vertical leg, which provides a hinge pin 121. A hinge post 122 is attached to the base plate 1 10 as by welding and said post includes a pair of spaced, pin-receiving portions 123 provided with bushings of nylon or similar material. The gate front closure portion 116 includes a footengageable, forwardly extending lip 119, which provides the means by which the gate 114 is opened. The side plates 112 constitute side guard means, and the gate arms 118 engage the near side plate 112 in the closed position. The far side plate 112 includes an upper outstanding portion 112' welded or otherwise attached, which limits access to the lip 119.

The gate 114 is biased to the closed position by means of a coiled torsion spring 130 wound about the portion of the hinge pin 121 disposed between the pinreceiving portions 123 of the hinge post 122. The spring 130 includes a tangential central portion 13] engageable with a vertical stop element 133 extending between the gage arm elements 118 and tengential outer portions 132 engageable with adjacent portions of the hinge post 122.

As with the previous embodiment the hinge axis is disposed at the rear end of the base plate 110 so that the distance between the innermost point of foot engagement on the lip 119, indicated by point P and said hinge axis, provides that initially the gate opens a greater amount sideways than it does longitudinally, thereby facilitating access of the foot F to the switch 115.

It will be understood that the term switch, which has been used throughout this specification for convenience, is not intended to be limited to electrical switch controls but also incorporates similar foot control devices such as valve controls which could be inadvertently actuated if not protected.

I claim as my invention:

1. A foot control guard a. base means including a front end, and a rear end,

b. cover means disposed in spaced relation from said base means,

0. gate means rotatable between an open and closed position about a hinge axis transversely disposed of said base means, said gate means including:

l. a front closure portion having a foot-engageable portion, and

2. an armportion extending rearwardly of said front closure portion and hingedly mounted to one of said latter two means,

3. the hinge axis being disposed rearwardly of the front end of said base means, and

e. biasing means biasing said gate means into the closed position.

2. A foot control guard as defined in claim 1, in

which: I

e. the arm portion of the gate means provides a first side guard means,

. f. the cover means includes a depending portion connecting said cover means to said base means and providing a second side guard means,

3. A foot control guard as defined in claim 2, in

which:

g. the front closure portion of the gate means is operatively engageable with the second side guard means in the closed position, and the footengageable portion of said front closure portion includes a lip extending longitudinally away from said second side guard means.

4. A foot control guard as defined in claim 1, in

which: i

e. said closure portion and said arm portion of said gate means are formed from a unitary bent plate.

5. A foot control guard as defined in claim 1, in

which:

e. said base means includes an attachment means spaced from the hinge axis, and

f. said biasing means includes a resilient plunger means pivotally attached at one end to said arm portion in spaced relation from said hinged axis and connected at the other end to said attachment means.

6. A foot control guard as defined in claim 1, in

which:

e. the arm portion of the gate means includes opposed arm elements and a hinge pin element interconnecting said arm elements.

f. the cover means includes opposed depending portions connecting said cover means to said base means and providing first and second side guard means.

g. at least one of said arm elements is operatively engageable with one of said guard means in the closed position.

7. A foot control guard as defined in claim 1, in

which:

e. the base means includes a post portion, and

f. a torsion spring, disposed between said post portion and said arm portion of the gate means provides the biasing means.

8. A foot control guard comprising:

a. base means including a front end, and a rear end,

b. cover means disposed in spaced relation from said base means,

c. gate means rotatable between an open and closed position about a hinge axis substantially perpendicularly disposed of said base means, said gate means including:

i. a front closure portion having a foot-engageable portion, and

2. an arm portion extending rearwardly of said front closure portion and hingedly mounted to one of said latter two means, at the rear end of said base means, and

d. means biasing said gate means into the closed position.

9. A foot control guard as defined in claim 8, in

which:

f. said arm portion has a length greater than said closure portion g. said arm portion and said closure portion are integrally formed into a substantially ell-shaped configuration.

10. A foot control guard as defined in claim 8, in

which:

f. the foot-engageable portion of the front closure portion includes a longitudinally extending lip, and

g. the cover means includes a depending portion connecting said cover means to said base means, said depending portion including an outstanding portion disposed above said foot-engageable portion to limit access to said foot-engageable portion.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION ram: NO. 3, 785,222 Dated January 15, 1974 I nventoflsx) JAMES c. DAWSON It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that saidLetters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the Title Page, the designated application No. "Applicatiori N09: 396,704" should be Application Signed, and sealed this 1st: day of October 1974.

.(SEAL) Attest:

MCCQY M. GIBSON JR. Attesting Officer C. MARSIIALL DANN Commissioner of Patents 

1. A foot control guard a. base means including a front end, and a rear end, b. cover means disposed in spaced relation from said base means, c. gate means rotatable between an open and closed position about a hinge axis transversely disposed of said base means, said gate means including:
 1. a front closure portion having a foot-engageable portion, and
 2. an arm portion extending rearwardly of said front closure portion and hingedly mounted to one of said latter two means,
 3. the hinge axis being disposed rearwardly of the front end of said base means, and e. biasing means biasing said gate means into the closed position.
 2. an arm portion extending rearwardly of said front closure portion and hingedly mounted to one of said latter two means,
 2. A foot control guard as defined in claim 1, in which: e. the arm portion of the gate means provides a first side guard means, f. the cover means includes a depending portion connecting said cover means to said base means and providing a second side guard means,
 2. an arm portion extending rearwardly of said front closure portion and hingedly mounted to one of said latter two means, at the rear end of said base means, and d. means biasing said gate means into the closed position.
 3. A foot control guard as defined in claim 2, in which: g. the front closure portion of the gate means is operatively engageable with the second side guard means in the closed position, and the foot-engageable portion of said front closure portion includes a lip extending longitudinally away from said second side guard means.
 3. the hinge axis being disposed rearwardly of the front end of said base means, and e. biasing means biasing said gate means into the closed position.
 4. A foot control guard as defined in claim 1, in which: e. said closure portion and said arm portion of said gate means are formed from a unitary bent plate.
 5. A foot control guard as defined in claim 1, in which: e. said base means includes an attachment means spaced from the hinge axis, and f. said biasing means includes a resilient plunger means pivotally attached at one end to said arm portion in spaced relation from said hinged axis and connected at the other end to said attachment means.
 6. A foot control guard as defined in claim 1, in which: e. the arm portion of the gate means includes opposed arm elements and a hinge pin element interconnecting said arm elements. f. the cover means includes opposed depending portions connecting said cover means to said base means and providing first and second side guard means. g. at least one of said arm elements is operatively engageable with one of said guard means in the closed position.
 7. A foot control guard as defined in claim 1, in which: e. the base means includes a post portion, and f. a torsion spring, disposed between said post portion and said arm portion of the gate means provides the biasing means.
 8. A foot control guard comprising: a. base means including a front end, and a rear end, b. cover means disposed in spaced relation from said base means, c. gate means rotatable between an open and closed position about a hinge axis substantially perpendicularly dIsposed of said base means, said gate means including:
 9. A foot control guard as defined in claim 8, in which: f. said arm portion has a length greater than said closure portion g. said arm portion and said closure portion are integrally formed into a substantially ell-shaped configuration.
 10. A foot control guard as defined in claim 8, in which: f. the foot-engageable portion of the front closure portion includes a longitudinally extending lip, and g. the cover means includes a depending portion connecting said cover means to said base means, said depending portion including an outstanding portion disposed above said foot-engageable portion to limit access to said foot-engageable portion. 